I most likely will not be participating in the Black Friday sales this year.

Anyone who knows me also knows that I don’t wait until Black Friday to start my Christmas shopping.

Preparing for Christmas throughout the year can be a lot easier on your budget during the Christmas Shopping Season. I typically start Christmas shopping for my family in the fall and am pretty much completed by the time Black Friday rolls around. I’m always looking for items and tucking things away for the big day.

The problem that I have with Black Friday is that it leads to a lot of impulsive buying. You buy items that you really don’t need just because they’re on sale.

Consignment shopping is my greatest advice. For my young children, I purchase a lot of Christmas presents on consignment. Buying used toys not only breathes new life into the item, it saves a fortune on the budget.

You don’t have to spend a lot to let someone know you care this holiday. At our home, we love to teach our children the meaning of giving. We love giving presents to teachers, coaches, neighbors and friends. Typically are gifts are hand made. I find that having your children make the presents allows them to understand the concept of giving a lot better.

I also find this is a great time of year to purge your closets. Recently, I have been going through our children’s toys and either selling them or giving them away. The money that I’ve made from selling toys goes back into our Christmas budget. Not only does this help declutter your home, but it really can add some extra padding to your budget.

If you are joining the masses on Black Friday, there’s one thing you should do: avoid using your credit card.

I find that when you use your credit card you tend to overspend and you will be paying for Christmas for months to come. I like to remind my readers that if you cannot afford it, you do not need it. Purchase Christmas gifts with cash or debit cards.

Being debt free this holiday is the best gift you can give yourself.

E-mail your money saving tips to localnews2005@yahoo.com.